It was early morning when Kizuka’nafsi awoke. Her body ached with the weight of the cubs in her belly and the heat of her children, her sister and her new mate was making her uncomfortable. She decided that taking a dip in the shallow end of the river that divided her pride was in order. She hoped it would soothe the moving of her children, and knew it would cool her body and help her relax.
She had been so stressed lately, with the nearing of her cubs birth, the worry that she may not find Spenta in time for him to see them, and that her new mate may go back on his word and not allow their father to be their for the birth. Some of her worries were valid, others were irrational; she knew her new mate would allow Spenta to be there for the birth, he would not upset her so by denying her this.
Kizuka quickly stretched and left the dens she shared with her sister and mate, making the descent to the valley in which her pride was located. Kizuka lived in a den at the very front of the pride, a tad high up on one of the mountainsides. It was in this area so that the leaders (her and her sister) and the war leader (their mate) would be able to watch over the entrance of the pride and warn the others incase someone attempted to invade.
No one figured that anyone would try to overtake the pride from the entrance at the other end of the pride, as it was a treacherous ascent to that entrance and with the rocks and land being so slippery because of the river it was a definite suicide attempt to even try.
Kizuka made her way down to the river at her own pace, not wanting to upset her expected children. She passed the early bird members of her pride; the warriors, hunters and defenders, as well as some of the elder Umbikezeli. She was greeted warmly and more than several inquired about when the first litter of cubs was due. Everyone had taken an interest in her pregnancy, they would have done so regardless of the fact that she and her sister were now the Kabaila’umbikezeli, but the interest was much greater as many prayed for Kizuka to give birth to cubs of pure white coats.
“They mean well,” One of the Defenders had told her, though she needed no assurance, she knew they meant well.
She herself had hoped that Spenta gave her a few pure white cubs; every mother would hope that. Cubs with pure white coats were set for life, held almost as high as the Kabaila’umbikezeli themselves; God chosen children, both girls and boys. Kizuka gave off a sigh at the thought of having pure white cubs. She wanted them, but at the same time did not want them. If her children were born pure white they would be encouraged to breed heavily, yet at the same time her giving birth to pure white cubs would seal her lines inheritance of the throne.
“You children make my life so complicated, and you’re not even out of the womb yet,” Kizuka mumbled to herself. She was kidding, of course. Her children were a blessing to her no matter what the circumstances.
Kizuka had made it down to the river a half hour later. It would normally only take her ten minutes, but she took her time on account of her children. She didn’t want to give birth in the middle of the forest after all, that and they were kicking up a storm still.
She sighed as she approached the shallow end of the river and stuck a paw in. It was cold, but not frigid. The water would penetrate her coat quickly and cool her and her children off, and she longed for it. She quickly trotted into the river, a small chill coming over her as she did so. Boy did it feel good, and her children agreed with her. Quickly their kicking had subsided and was replaced by the normal movements of happy children.
She would spend only a few more minutes in the river. Too long and the babies would become cold. When she finished she would go visit the shrine and give her daily prayers. Prayers for her children, prayers for her sister, prayers for her mate, and prayers for the love she could never have.
